Did you know that the average home built before 1980 probably has a popcorn ceiling? When these ceilings were all the rage, few people realized how difficult it would be to remove them once their home was on the market. Now, it’s not uncommon for houses with a cringe-worthy popcorn ceiling to sell for much less than they would have if they had an updated look. But what can you do if you want to stay in your house and update it instead of trying to sell it? You can learn how to cover a popcorn ceiling! This is something that many professional contractors wouldn’t necessarily think of doing. but it’s actually quite straightforward. In this article, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about covering a popcorn ceiling with plaster.
How To Cover Popcorn Ceiling With Plaster?
Step 1: Prep Your Walls
- Examine the Ceiling: First, you need to examine the ceiling to see exactly what you’re dealing with. Start at the top of one wall and look across the ceiling at the other wall. Are there any major cracks that need to be repaired? Do any areas look like they’ve been patched up in the past? If so, you might need to repair these areas before you apply new drywall.
- Repair Cracks: If there are any cracks in the ceiling, you’ll want to repair them. You can use a joint compound to fill in small cracks or use a special ceiling crack repair compound for larger cracks. Large cracks can be a major problem since they can allow water to leak into your ceiling.
- Repair Dents: If you have large areas of popcorn on your ceiling, you’ll also have dents. Unfortunately, dents in your popcorn ceiling can’t be repaired. You’ll need to fill them in entirely with joint compound.
- Install New Sheathing: Once you’ve repaired any problems in your ceiling, you’ll need to install new sheathing. The new sheathing is just a layer of thick paper (usually OSB or WBP) that you staple to your ceiling. The new sheathing is a great way to create a smooth surface for your new drywall to sit on.
Step 2: Repair the Cracks and Dents
- Repair Cracks: Repairing cracks in your popcorn ceiling might seem like an odd thing to do when you’re covering a popcorn ceiling, but it’s important. If you don’t repair cracks, the new drywall might crack and even fall off later.
make the surface as smooth as possible. You don’t want to make the dents smaller, because that would leave a raised area on the ceiling. Instead, you need to fill in the dents entirely with joint compound.
Step 3: Install Drywall
- Layout the Drywall: Before you start hanging drywall, you need to lay out the drywall on your ceiling. You’ll want to measure the distance between each joist and mark the spots where you’ll need to put screws.
- Install New Drywall: Once you’ve marked where to put new drywall, cut two sheets of drywall that are a bit larger than the joists beneath them. Put each sheet of drywall on the ceiling. Make sure that the drywall sheets are level.
- Install New Paper: On each sheet of drywall, cover the bottom one-inch strip with paper. Staple it down, then fold the paper over the top of the drywall. Next, you need to tape the paper to the edges of the drywall.
Step 4: Sand, Paint, and Begone!
- Sand and Prime: You’ve finished hanging the drywall, and now it’s time to sand the rough edges, fill in the cracks and dents, and prime the entire ceiling.
- Sand: Start by sanding the entire ceiling with a handheld electric sander. You can also use a sanding spackling tool for areas that are difficult to reach.
- Fill Cracks and Dents: Next, you need to fill in all the cracks and dents in your ceiling. You can use a special crack and spackle compound to do this.
- Prime: Once you’ve sanded and patched all the areas of your ceiling, it’s time to prime the entire ceiling. You can use an oil-based primer, or you can use a special white spackling compound.
Why Do You Need To Cover A Popcorn Ceiling?
The Importance of Ceiling Repairs
Any real estate investor will tell you that the condition of a home’s interior is a huge factor in how quickly it sells. In fact, potential homebuyers will inspect a home’s interior during an open house and make notes about any defects they see. They’ll also make a note of how easy or difficult it is to repair any problems. So, if your ceiling is damaged, the first thing potential buyers will do is make a note about it. And once they do, you can pretty much count on them writing down that it will be a costly repair.
A Quick and Easy Fix for Big Problems
If you’re fortunate enough to really like your home and you plan to stay in it for a while, you might decide to replace your popcorn ceiling with a smooth surface. However, if you’re trying to sell your home quickly, you need to consider doing something that’s quick, easy, and reasonably inexpensive. Instead of replacing your entire ceiling, you can cover a popcorn ceiling with a coating that’s easy to apply and looks great. And the great thing about this quick fix is that you can do it yourself. This will save thousands of dollars in labor costs, which means you can put more money towards closing costs and other fees associated with selling a home.
It Improves the Look of Your Home
People often buy a house because they like the layout and the neighborhood. But they purchase a home because they like the appearance and the condition. So, if you want your home to sell quickly, you need to make it look like a buyer’s dream home. The most obvious way to do this is to clean up your interior and make repairs as necessary. However, you can also make small but quick changes to improve the look of your home. Painting the interior, for example, is an easy way to significantly improve the look of your home. But you can also cover a popcorn ceiling to create a more modern look that potential buyers will love.
It Shows Potential Buyers that You’re Responsible
You can’t take care of every single problem that comes up when you’re selling your home. But you can take care of the ones that potential buyers notice and might consider a major problem. They’ll notice a popcorn ceiling and understand that it’s a problem that needs to be repaired. But they’ll also notice the covering on the ceiling and know that you’re taking care of the problem. This shows them that you’re a responsible homeowner and you’ll take care of any issues in their new home as well. They’ll be more likely to purchase your home as a result.
It Helps Sell Your Home Fast
A quick and easy solution like covering a popcorn ceiling is exactly what you need to sell your home fast. You might have a buyer who loves your home, but they’re not in a position to purchase it in the near future. But you can use the quick and easy fixes you’ve made to sell your home faster. This will help you find a buyer who is ready to purchase your home. Selling your home quickly can get you more money than if you wait for the perfect buyer. It can also help you avoid paying those extra mortgage payments.
Conclusion
A popcorn ceiling is an eyesore, and it’s a sign that your home could use some TLC. Fortunately, it’s easy to cover a popcorn ceiling with new drywall. You can simply cut the drywall to fit over each joist, then tape and paint it. You’ll have a beautiful new ceiling in no time! Not only that, but you’ll also be protecting your home’s structural integrity by covering up the old and damaged popcorn ceiling. Do yourself a favor and cover that popcorn ceiling with a brand-new layer of drywall!
